Indigenous Partnership in Carbon Capture
On April 6, 2026, Microsoft announced a landmark agreement to purchase 626,000 tonnes of carbon removal credits over a 15-year period from the North Star BECCS project in Saskatchewan, Canada. This agreement is the first of its kind in Canada involving Indigenous ownership, showcasing Microsoft’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint.
The North Star BECCS project is a joint venture between the Meadow Lake Tribal Council (MLTC) and Svante Technologies Inc. This partnership, known as North Star Carbon Solutions LP, underscores the importance of Indigenous participation in sustainable projects. The deal with Microsoft represents the company’s inaugural Canadian BECCS CDR offtake agreement.
Located at the MLTC Bioenergy Centre in Meadow Lake, the project utilises sustainable waste biomass from MLTC’s adjacent sawmill. This waste biomass serves as a renewable resource for the bioenergy facility, ensuring a sustainable supply chain. A new carbon capture plant will be established at the MLTC Bioenergy Centre, supplied by sustainable waste biomass from local forest product mills.
The carbon capture plant, owned by North Star Carbon Solutions LP, is expected to generate up to 90,000 tonnes of carbon removal credits each year. Captured carbon dioxide will be transported to a geologic storage site operated by North Star, ensuring permanent and safe storage. The CDR credits delivered under the agreement will be independently verified and issued in accordance with applicable carbon removal crediting standards.
Svante Technologies, through its subsidiary Carbon Alpha Corp., will provide the necessary funding for the project up until the construction phase begins. This financial backing highlights Svante’s commitment to supporting innovative carbon capture solutions. The project plans to use waste biomass and to monitor CO2 capture, transport, and permanent geologic storage to support long-term durability.
Commercial operations for the project are planned to commence in early 2029. Once operational, the project will deliver high-quality carbon removal credits to Microsoft, reinforcing the tech giant’s leadership in environmental sustainability. Scott Gardner, President of Svante Development Inc., expressed enthusiasm for the project, stating, “We are excited about this landmark agreement for BECCS in Canada, which is the result of Microsoft’s leadership in carbon removal. Microsoft’s anchor offtake commitment sends a strong signal to the market about the quality of North Star’s CDRs and the readiness of the Canadian market to deliver such projects.”
Last updated: 29 June 2026, 12:34 pm
